The Shield of Achilles : Quotations
The Shield of Achilles is a notable literary work by W. H. Auden. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Shield of Achilles.
Quotations
Quotes
“She looked over his shoulder for vines and olive trees.”
Explanation: Thetis expects beauty and peace on the shield. She hopes for life, growth, and joy in art.
“But there on the shining metal his hands had put instead an artificial wilderness.”
Explanation: The shield shows a cruel, barren world. It reflects modern war and human emptiness.
“A plain without a feature, bare and brown.”
Explanation: This line shows a lifeless land. It represents a world without hope or compassion.
“The mass and majesty of this world, all that carries weight and always weighs the same.”
Explanation: Auden shows the heavy cruelty of human life. Power and injustice never seem to change.